STRICTER ANTI-SMOKING LAWS IN THE PIPELINE

The Department of Health is pushing for stricter anti-smoking laws to be implemented.

The Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill was approved in 2018. Its aim is to prohibit smoking in all public places.

EWN reports that the Department's Lynn Moeng said the draft Bill is currently in the pipeline, and that government is working as fast as it can to have it processed.

"We are now finalising the process and, once we have done that before it even gets to Cabinet, it needs to be approved by a few technical committees".

"We are in the process where we'll now be able to submit to the various committees."

Tobacco companies have already highlighted what it believes to have been a poor public consultation process. The companies have also said that the new draft Bill will have devastating effects on the industry, and that job losses will happen because of companies having to close down.

Not only the tobacco manufacturers will suffer a loss due to the draft Bill. Retail group, Spar, has also submitted their figures showing that the ban on cigarettes during the initial hard lockdown had a negative effect on their numbers as well.

The draft Bill aims to ban smoking completely in workplaces, any enclosed spaces where children are present, private dwellings used for certain commercial activities, and some outdoor public spaces.

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